The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-02-26

| WLIlam GURUS und Carl SchurZ wert
supposed to be sitting on {
golden cloud with harps il
hand, singing songs of pur-
| Ity concerning new political SCIENCES
But he had read in a Chicago news
paper of Mr.. Adams. conduct in refer
ence to certain rolling mills, and as to
charging tour times the regular freight
so as to keep away competition, and il
made him think OF the negro song:
And that darkie in the camp ground,
Who can lOudest sing and shout
Is going to rob some hen roost,
Before the week is out.
Stanford said that he wanted the in
vestigation to be so thorough that il
afterwards Congress should deem it
wise to legislate, it could do so intelli-
gently. He quoted a communication
from the Interior Department, dated
March 9Th, 1884, stating, in reply
to an Interrogation, that the Central
Pacific had fully and promptly
complied with the requirements
of the act; also one from the Commits
sioner of Railroads, dated August 9Th,
1885, saying: 80 far as this Office is ad-
vised, the said company, the Central
Pacific, has fully and promptly com
piled with all the said requirements. "
He added that since the latter date, the
company had met all its obligations.
There was not a single complaint on the
part of the government, of the failure
on the part of the Central Pacific
to comply with every requirement of
the law. He would also like an investi
cation to go to the extent of ascertain
ing what the government had paid for
transportation to the Pacific from 1855
to 1869, when the IA lroads were
completed $50 as to form an esti-
mate of the advantages which
the government had derived from
the construction of thee roads,
He would also like to have comparison
of the cost of the roads with what the
cost would have been five years before
or five years subsequent. The Central
Pacific was commenced in the midst of
war. ii reCe.ved subsidy bonds at
the time when they were worth in gold
(the money which the company had to
use) only forty cents on the dollar
The average was something over 60
cents, so that the interest piling up
against the company was really 10 per
cent. of the amount of which the com
pany received. The road was built at a
time when all material was high
aud when as high as $50 a ton
had to be paid for freighS ION
material. The result had been to
open the road for the use of govern
ment seven years earlier than the con-
tract required. He would also like an
investigation to ascertain whether there
had been legislation calculated to i'm
pair the earning capacity OF the road.
Very soon after the road was
opened, there were three other
lines subsidized by the government.
All these were subjects which
it seemed to him ought to be taken into
consideration. He knew that the
Central Pacific company had never
made any contract which permitted its
own interest to be harmed. He offered
an amendment to the second sec
ton, requiring the inves tigation
to be also directed to the vari-
Gus points m sntioned by him.
Mr.. Edmunds reviewed with much
debate the question of debt. net earn
ings of the U. P. Railroad Company,
and remarked that the question be-
tween the government and the COM
pany was in no way affected by the
consideration whether every second
stakeholder was a widow and all the
rest of them orphans. He argued in
favor of requiring an increase of the
payment of net earnings from % per
cent. to 40 per cent.
At midnight the Senate is still in SEES
sion.
The question then required on the
striking out of the fourth section
authorizing the President to redeem
prior mortgages, and it was decided in
the negatiVe-yeas 10, nays q. The
question was then taken on the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Stanford, increas-
ing the range of inquiry, and it was
agreed to without division.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to restore the
40 per cent. section.
The question was taken on Mr.. Ed
munds motion to restore the fifth sec
ton of the substitute (the 90 per cent.
proVision), and it was ejecfed-yeas IA,
nays 81.
Mr.. Edmunds then moved to restore
Section 6. authorizing the investment of
the sinking fund or subsidy bonds or
first mortgage bonds. Agreed to-yeas
81, nays 9.
Rtddlebergef moved to strike out the
clause which provides the claim that
testimony or evidence that may GRIM
from testifying. He proceeded to make
violent attaek on the bill and to de-
.nounce its supporters.
Mr.. Riddleberger's motion was de-
feated. Yeas Is, nays %.
Mr.. Plumb moved to amend by
adding several other subjects of inquiry
such as the relations of the railroads
to the interests OF the communities
through which they pass, the payment
Of taxes, especially upon their lands;
the delay in taking out patents for land;
rates Of freight and tare; discrimina
tons; differentials; pools and other de-
vices. Agreed to, UivG r0ce.
The substitute was then agreed to and
the bill, as amended, was passed, and a
conference asked.